Chamberlain off DL; Tex, Youk ready for rehab

Published 7:31 am, Wednesday, May 29, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) -- Joba Chamberlain was activated from the disabled list Tuesday by the New York Yankees, and injured infielders Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis might not be far behind.

Chamberlain was back in the bullpen for the second Subway Series game against the New York Mets after missing a month with a strained muscle on his right side. To make room on the roster, left-hander David Huff was designated for assignment.

Teixeira and Youkilis both got five at-bats Tuesday during an extended spring training game in Florida, then headed out to begin their rehab assignments Wednesday with Double-A Trenton. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said it's possible both could be ready to rejoin the team after two games in Trenton.

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That would make them available for the start of a three-game series against rival Boston that begins Friday. The Red Sox entered Tuesday with a one-game lead in the AL East over New York.

Teixeira has been sidelined since early March by a right wrist injury. Youkilis has missed almost 30 games with a lumbar spine sprain.

Huff had just been added to the roster Sunday, one day after he was claimed off waivers from Cleveland. He pitched in one game for the Yankees, allowing one run in one inning against Tampa Bay.

Before getting hurt, Chamberlain had been used primarily in the seventh inning, a role that has since been filled nicely by other relievers such as Shawn Kelley and Preston Claiborne.

"Everybody's throwing the ball well, so just to be able to be in the mix with those guys down there, it's been fun to watch. And now to be a part of it, it's going to be even better," Chamberlain said. "I've been in every situation, so there's not going to be any situation that catches me off guard, and I think that's my advantage. Obviously, whatever inning it is and whatever situation, I'm going to be ready to go and look forward to it."

Girardi said he plans to use Chamberlain the way he did before the injury.

"I anticipate Joba getting there. We'll see how we use him right away," Girardi said. "Sometimes when a guy comes back from an injury you kind of want to kind of work him back slowly, but we'll see what the opportunity is."

In other injury news, Andy Pettitte threw 75 pitches during a five-inning simulated game, his first game-type action since going on the 15-day disabled list May 17 because of a strained muscle in his upper back. If he feels fine Wednesday, the left-hander could return to the big league rotation early next week.

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez, coming back from hip surgery in January, has resumed taking on-field batting practice as he moves into his fourth week of baseball activities.

Eduardo Nunez, who had been filling in at shortstop for injured Derek Jeter, was kept off the field as he tries to heal a strained muscle on his left side. Nunez felt discomfort during batting practice Saturday and was shut down.

Girardi said right-hander Michael Pineda was throwing well at extended spring training but was taken out of the game because of a cracked nail. Pineda, an All-Star as a rookie in 2011, is coming back from right shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of last season. He has not pitched for the Yankees yet after being acquired from Seattle in a trade after the 2011 season.

NOTES: Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who plans to retire after this season, was honored by the Mets and the FDNY in a brief ceremony Tuesday afternoon before his final scheduled visit to Citi Field. Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon presented Rivera with a mounted fire hose nozzle, and New York City Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano gave baseball's career saves leader a mounted call box. Wilpon said although it seems unlikely, he'd like to see Rivera again in the World Series. "You never know," Rivera said, later adding: "I have enjoyed every game that I have played here. We've had some great games. I've saved some games, I've blown some games. Overall, it has been wonderful. It has been nothing but great moments and I definitely will appreciate all this." ... Rivera also accepted an invitation from Wilpon to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game. After a rain delay that lasted 91 minutes, a smiling Rivera climbed the mound and tossed to Mets career saves leader John Franco behind the plate. Just before that, the Mets played a video tribute to Rivera that ended with the message, "Congratulations on a Hall of Fame career."

Phillies 3, Red Sox 1

BOSTON (AP) -- Cliff Lee pitched eight innings of four-hit ball and Jonathan Papelbon earned his first save at Fenway Park as a Red Sox opponent on Tuesday night, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 victory over Boston.

Michael Young and Domonic Brown homered for the Phillies, and Erik Kratz singled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning to snap Boston's four-game winning streak.

Lee (6-2) allowed a first-inning run and then retired 22 of the next 23 batters to win his fourth consecutive decision. He struck out eight to match his season high and walked none.

Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Ryan Dempster (2-6) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four in seven innings for Boston.